A member of a New Jersey town council has been charged with racketeering, among other crimes, in relation to an illegal gambling ring.
New Jersey attorney general Matthew J. Platkin confirmed on Friday that 39 people have been charged with being part of the ring, including Anand Shah, a member of the Prospect Park borough council, as well as high-ranking members of the Lucchese organised crime family.
Shah allegedly managed illegal poker games and an online sports book tied to the Lucchese family and faces charges of racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and other charges.
The New Jersey State Police conducted raids on poker clubs in Totowa, Garfield and Woodland Park, as well as a business in Paterson that prosecutors said was being used to store gambling machines. Two of the clubs were run from the back of restaurants.
Thirty-five of those charged were arrested during these raids early on 9 April. Platkin said the searches and arrests were the result of a two-year investigation into the illegal activities, with prosecutors noting that the illegal operations netted over $3 million in revenue.
Alongside the charges relating to illegal gambling, the investigation found that members of the Lucchese family engaged in a continuous series of retail thefts from Home Depot, with at least $22,000 of merchandise taken.
The 39 defendants appeared in the state superior count in Morris County on 10 April.
“Romanticised versions of organised crime have been the subject of countless movies and television shows, often set right here in the Garden State,” said Platkin. “But the reality isn’t romantic or cinematic. It’s about breaking the laws the rest of us follow and, ultimately, it’s about money, control, and the threat of violence. My office is bringing every resource available to crack down on violent criminals, including organised crime, and will root it out in all of its forms. And that is exactly what we have done.”
Theresa Hilton, director of the Division of Criminal Justice in New Jersey, commented: “In the complaint we’re announcing today, we allege that members and associates of the Lucchese Crime Family operated illegal card games and sports betting books in northern New Jersey.
“This can lead to other criminal activity, such as money laundering and theft. Two of the defendants are charged with stealing from local retailers in addition to their roles in the gambling operation. These are not so-called ‘victimless’ crimes, and we take seriously our responsibility to root out these illegal enterprises.”